Watford Preview

Nottingham Forest will be looking to earn their fourth consecutive home league victory when they take on Watford in front of the TV cameras at The City Ground on Thursday (kick-off 7.45pm).

The Reds were held by League One Preston North End in the FA Cup with Budweiser fourth round on Friday but will be hoping to continue their superb league form against the misfiring Hornets.

Forest haven't beaten Watford in their past four meetings but will be hoping for some revenge after the Hertfordshire side did the double over The Reds last season.

Team News

Billy Davies has been unable to field a regular defence in recent weeks as the busy fixture list has taken its toll.

Danny Collins and Eric Lichaj both came through last week's FA Cup game against Preston unscathed while Jamaal Lascelles recovered sufficiently to take his place amongst the substitutes and will be pushing for a start.

Henri Lansbury will definitely be out as he serves the second game of a two-match ban, picked up after collecting his tenth booking of the campaign against Blackburn.

Chris Cohen (knee), Dexter Blackstock (knee) and Kelvin Wilson (back) are all still in the treatment room.

Watford have a number of injury concerns headed by key midfielders Lewis McGugan and Iriney who could both miss out on the trip to The City Ground.

On-loan Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin will return after not be eligible to play in the FA Cup but Tommie Hoban and Essaid Belkalem are still long-term absentees.

Current Form

The Reds are unbeaten in eleven games in all competitions and will hope to keep that going with two home games in three days.

Friday's goalless draw against Preston was only the third time this season that Billy Davies' side have failed to score.

Giuseppe Sannino's side squandered a two-goal lead in their FA Cup tie at Manchester City at the weekend, eventually losing 4-2. An error from goalkeeper Jonathan Bond cost his side dearly as his gift to Aleksander Kolarov allowed City to take the lead three minutes from time.

The Hornets' league form has seen last season’s playoff finalists slip to 15th in the Championship and they now find themselves firmly planted in mid-table.

The last meeting between the sides in August ended in a 1-1 draw as the then-top two in the Championship went head-to-head at Vicarage Road.

Andy Reid had given The Reds a deserved first-half lead, but former Red Lewis McGugan fired a trademark free-kick past Karl Darlow to end Forest's 100% start to the season.

The last meeting at The City Ground was one to forget as Gianfranco Zola's men eased to a 3-0 triumph courtesy of goals from Matej Vydra (two) and Troy Deeney.

He Played For Both

Darius Henderson

The powerful forward was an integral part of Aidy Boothroyd's Watford side that won promotion to the Premier League in 2006. Henderson scored 14 goals in 27 games as The Hornets went on to beat Leeds in the playoff final at Wembley.

He scored just three goals in Watford’s Premier League season as they were eventually relegated but after another successful season in the Championship, he secured a £2million move to Sheffield United.

The official matchday magazine is available to buy and download for Thursday's meeting with Watford.

In this newly designed edition, priced £3, Fawaz Al Hasawi and Billy Davies give their opinions on a hectic January while Gonzalo Jara discusses his Forest career to date as well as his World Cup ambitions.

Forest fans are reminded that they can download the official matchday magazine to their iPad. Perfect for supporters who are unable to attend the game, the download can be accessed via this app from 6.45pm onwards on Thursday.

Hard copies will be available from all the usual outlets.

Follow The Game

Live audio commentary will be available on Forest Player, as well as free live text commentary on nottinghamforest.co.uk.

Forest Player will also have extended match highlights from 12noon on Friday, as well as all the reaction from the Forest camp.

Tickets for the match (Thursday 30 January, kick-off 7.45pm) are on general sale and can be bought online at www.nffcretail.com, in store at the Ticket Office or by calling 0871 226 1980 (calls cost 10p per minute, mobile rates may vary).